Dire Dawa

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/dire-dawa

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the population (city proper, projected 2015)?277,000 inhabitants
2. What is the key infrastructure?Dire Dawa Airport and a major station on the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway
3. Why is Dire Dawa called the Place of Remedy?The Oromo name "Dirree Dhawaa" means "Place of Remedy," showing that people once saw the city as a safe spot where travelers could rest and heal, possibly because of good natural resources.
4. How does the railway help Dire Dawa?Dire Dawa is a key stop on the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway, which lets goods travel from Ethiopia’s landlocked interior to the Red Sea port in Djibouti, making the city important for trade.

Chartered City: A city granted special administrative powers and autonomy by a national government.
Woreda: A sub-division of a region or zone in Ethiopia, similar to a district or county.
Riparian: Relating to or situated on the banks of a river.
Confluence: The junction of two rivers, or the meeting point of different ideas, cultures, or people.